Hi everyone. I have recently come into the proud possession of what appears to have been a former pumper truck for the fire department of the small town of Pearl, MS. The truck is very solid with what appears to be only surface cancer on the ab and sheet metal. It does run and drive, though the brakes are non-existent. The serial number is 6B 58S102941, which tells me this is a 2 ton with a 156 1/2" wheel base built in '58 at the St. Louis plant. Someone, please tell me if I got that wrong.
Though I know it was a fire department truck, the only reason I think it was a pumper is because there is a PTO installed on the transmission. It is a Dana unit and as best I can tell the model number is 350XSBSX WX30. Anything anyone can tell me about this unit would be VERY helpful.
As for the brakes, a cursory inspection led me to go ahead and source parts to replace everything - master cylinder, wheel cylinders, flexible lines, hard lines (bending my own), fittings, etc. I've managed to source everything with the exception of the Hydrovac booster, though O'Reilley's says they can send it out to be rebuilt. Which leads to my first question - should I stay with the Hydrovac? Should I go with full manual brakes? Is there a better upgrade out there? I'd rather keep everything down on the frame rail instead of cluttering up the firewall.
After driving it around the field at the shop, it is abundantly clear that something will have to be done to the suspension. I don't think I will ever need the full capacity of the stock suspension and I am certain that the truck will beat itself to death if I don't tame it to some degree. The rear is running a 12-13 leaf primary pack and a 6-7 leaf auxiliary pack. Any thoughts on how to make this driveable without a 1000 gallon water tank attached are much needed!
Lastly, any thought, comments, help, etc, are very welcome. I was a mechanic in a former life, I've got a thick skin and I'm not a know it all. I would attach pics, but I can't figure out how.
